World No.1 Jannik Sinner allayed any fears of his fitness with an emphatic first-round performance, destroying Czech Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
2025 ATP Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York City (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected 2nd Round Matches-28th August
Jannik Sinner (1) vs Alexei Popyrin
There were some lingering doubts after illness forced him to withdraw from that Cincinnati final against Alcaraz. I knew those fears were a tad premature. Sinner has been virtually undefeatable on hardcourts in recent times, improving to 27-1 in his last 28 hardcourt matches with that win over Kopriva. Sinner has won the last three hardcourt slams and looked grimly efficient against Kopriva, winning 83% of his first-serve points while hitting 17 winners to 20 unforced errors. 2024 Canadian Open champ Alexei Popyrin looked incredible in his New York opener, taking down returning Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. He was at his kinetic best, hitting 19 aces and winning 87% of his first-serve points. He hit 44 winners to 30 unforced errors in as complete a performance as you are likely to see. Popyrin has struggled for consistency this season but did reach the recent Toronto quarterfinals, accounting for the likes of Medvedev and Rune in the process. He created some shockwaves at last year’s US Open, eliminating defending champ Novak Djokovic en route to a 4th round finish. A win against Sinner- in this type of form- would probably surpass the magnitude of that Djokovic upset win.
The Verdict: Sinner to win in four at 2.3– Popyrin has a winning record against the Italian, beating him in their lone meeting at the 2021 Madrid Masters. You would be crazy to bet against a comfortable Sinner win. However, Popyrin has enough about him to suggest he could nick a set (especially if you are hunting value). He served magnificently against the Finn and showed significant resolve in that final tiebreak).
Lorenzo Musetti (10) 0.24 vs David Goffin 2.95
Italian shot-making virtuoso Lorenzo Musetti took some time to get going against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, losing a first-set tiebreak before romping home to a convincing 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win. Musetti served brilliantly throughout, winning a stunning 87% of total service points. He just got better as the match progressed, striking 39 winners to just 15 unforced errors. He showed deft touch at the net and cleverly attacked the Frenchman’s vulnerable backhand wing. I have perhaps underestimated Musetti. He came into this event with a poor 1-4 record since returning from the left-leg abductor issue he suffered in Paris. He obviously was building towards these championships and could be peaking at the right time. Belgian baseliner David Goffin took a similar route to the 2nd round, losing a first-set tiebreak before rallying to win in four against Quentin Halys. He won despite himself: he landed less than 50% of his first-serve points and landed 11 double faults. But he controlled the longer rallies and did enough to break a poor five-match losing streak. While certainly in the twilight of his career, Goffin still has what it takes to ruffle up the big guys. He beat Zverev in last year’s Shanghai Masters and remarkably took down Carlos Alcaraz at this year’s Miami Open. Goffin was once a remarkably consistent US Open operator, reaching the 4th round for four successive seasons from 2017-2020.
The Verdict: Musetti to win in four at 2.4– Musetti leads the head-to-head 2-1, winning an incredible five-set thriller here back in 2022. However, Goffin won their most recent meeting, taking down the Italian in three sets at last year’s Shanghai Masters. Goffin is a relentless baseliner who doesn’t tend to deviate from the back of the court. Musetti is the opposite, constantly looking to create new angles and come forward whenever he can. Musetti’s greater variety should be far too much for the veteran Belgian. However, Goffin’s ability to flatten the ball out could help him steal a set (especially if Musetti feels a twinge from that recent leg injury).
Felix Auger-Aliassime (25) 0.39 vs Roman Safiullin 1.95
2021 US Open semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime got his New York campaign off to a positive start, seeing off nuggety Brit Billy Harris 6-4, 7-6, 6-4. He wasn’t at this vintage best but had too much firepower for the Brit, hitting 34 winners to Harris’ 20. Canadian Auger-Aliassime has enjoyed a real renaissance this season, reaching the semifinals or better in seven different events (on all three surfaces). He looked especially dangerous during the early hardcourt section of the season, reaching finals in Adelaide, Montpelier and Dubai (winning those first two finals). He has largely struggled at the highest level. In fact, he was eliminated in the first round in six of his last eleven Grand Slam appearances. He did pick up some form on the eve of this event, reaching the Cincy quarters before running into the bulldozer that is Jannik Sinner. Next up for the Canadian is Roman Safiullin. The big-hitting Russian barely survived a topsy turvy first-round slugfest, eking out a 6-4, 2-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against ageless Frenchman Gael Monfils. He hit 33 winners to 37 unforced errors in what turned out to be a high-quality first-round match. The Russian has just one career final to his name (at the 2023 Chengdu Open) and he arrived in New York in negligible form.
The Verdict: Auger-Aliassime to win in straight sets at 1.9– Auger-Aliassime leads the head-to-head 1-0, taking down the Russian in straight sets at the 2022 Open 13. I think that the Canadian is going to romp to victory here. Safiullin struggled on first serve against Monfils, winning just 38% of his 2nd serve points while conceding 12 break points. The Canadian should target this vulnerability and progress to the 3rd round for the first time since that glorious 2021 semifinal run.
